This paper examines Byzantine fool saints, aiming to verify that the
association of these ascetics with demons could be traced back to the first
representative of this typology of saints, Symeon of Emesa. Through the study
of the Life of Symeon the Fool, by Leontius of Neapolis, Symeon’s actions will
be analyzed, trying to identify similarities with various characters linked with
demons in Christian moral in order to point out the demoniacal characteristics
of Symeon’s behavior.